Two judges from the Mount Lavinia District Court who presided over a case involving a government minister have been transferred, opposition MP Mujibur Rahman alleged in Parliament.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP told the House that an arrest warrant had been issued for the minister on September 6, 2024. He claimed the judge who issued the warrant was subsequently transferred and replaced — and that the replacement judge has also now been transferred.
Rahman further stated that police had sought the Attorney General’s advice on whether to arrest the minister, but insisted this was unnecessary. “If an arrest warrant is issued, it must be executed. There is no need to seek the AG's advice,” he said.
He also criticised recent changes to judicial appointments, claiming the government had replaced the long-standing seniority-based system with a so-called merit-based one.
According to Rahman, the judge who ordered the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was promoted to the High Court despite being ranked 33rd on a list of 35 candidates. He said only 16 names from the list had been selected for promotion, yet the judge in question was elevated ahead of others.
Rahman also questioned the legitimacy of the recent promotion of 17 judges to the High Court, claiming the appointments were approved by only two members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), when all three members’ approval is required by law.
